VGCC Scholarship Endowed in memory of Warrenton man

A new scholarship was recently endowed at Vance-Granville Community College in memory of Jerry Ellington of Warrenton, who lost a battle with cancer several years ago. Lelia Brigham of Henderson, a part-time VGCC art instructor whose late husband worked with Ellington, created the scholarship in his memory. Ellington worked at Gate Concrete Products Company in Oxford.

The Jerry Ellington Memorial Academic Achievement scholarship will have an unusual eligibility requirement. Recipients will be students who did not finish high school but came to VGCC for a GED, and then enrolled in a curriculum program to earn a certificate, diploma or degree. Brigham credited VGCC Dean of Adult Basic Education Leo Kelly, Jr. and Director of Basic Skills Sue W. Grissom with helping her realize that she could set up the scholarship in that way. “We decided that this would be a creative way to encourage and reward those students who made the effort to come back to school and get their GED, and who haven’t had a lot of opportunities,” Brigham said. “These scholarships really do mean a lot to the students.”

Above, Brigham (center) presented her contribution to, from left, VGCC Vice President of Institutional Advancement and Endowment Fund director Jo Anna Jones, Leo Kelly, Jr., VGCC President Randy Parker and Sue W. Grissom.

The new scholarship will add to the more than 5,000 VGCC scholarships awarded since 1982, which have been funded by interest earned on the Endowment Fund and Scholarship Program. Scholarships have been established by individuals, businesses, civic groups, churches and the college’s faculty and staff to assist deserving VGCC students. With assets of more than $6 million, VGCC has one of the largest community college endowment and scholarship funds in the state. Tax-deductible donations to the VGCC Endowment Fund have often been used to honor or remember a person, group, business or industry with a lasting gift to education.